Shubhanshu Shukla's space launch delayed six times: Here are the reasons
The much-awaited launch of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla was postponed indefinitely on Thursday by Nasa. The Ax-4 mission was planned to launch on June 11, after which a postponement was issued due to technical reasons.The mission, which would mark India's return to human spaceflight after 41 years, was re-scheduled for June 11, 2025, but now faces an indefinite delay as Nasa, Axiom Space, and Isro prioritise crew safety and technical validation.advertisementNasa and Axiom Space announced the postponement after a new pressure signature was detected in the aft segment of the ISS's Zvezda service module, following recent repairs. REASONS BEHIND DELAY
The launch, originally targeted for May 29, 2025, was deferred to June 8, 2025, due to observations related to the electrical harness in the Crew Dragon module.
The launch was further postponed by one day to June 9, 2025, due to delays in the readiness of the Falcon 9 vehicle.
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The launch date was subsequently postponed to June 10, 2025, owing to unfavourable weather conditions in the ascent corridor.
During preparations for the hot fire test on June 8, 2025, an additional oxygen leak was observed in the engine bay. Furthermore, an anomaly was detected in one of the engine actuators, which was replaced along with its controller. With expectations of a swift resolution to the LOX leak issue, the launch was rescheduled to June 11, 2025.
On June 10, 2025, during a technical review between Axiom, SpaceX, and the Isro delegation, ISRO recommended performing in-situ repairs or replacements and conducting a low-temperature leak test to verify system performance and integrity before granting launch clearance.
On June 11, 2025, Nasa reported that it is coordinating with Roscosmos to assess a new pressure signature suggesting a leak in the aft-most segment of the ISS Zvezda Russian Service Module, following a recent repair attempt. To allow further evaluation and determine if additional troubleshooting is needed, the Axiom-4 mission launch is being postponed.
Nasa officials have emphasised that multiple launch windows are available through June and July, but a new date will only be announced once all safety concerns are resolved.This cautious approach highlights the complexities and high stakes of human spaceflight, especially as commercial and international partnerships expand the frontier of space exploration.Tune InTrending Reel
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Time of India
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